《Counter-Revenge Transmigration》 Chapter One An unfamiliar room, well-furnished in a traditional Chinese style; strong smells like dust, coal smoke, incense. A silence so loud it was deafening. There was a clear, chubby white hand at my side that curled into a fist when I willed it, and when I lurched up into a sitting posture, I felt a long braid move along my back, noted my short legs and other features. Added with my memories of dying in a car accident, I had a pretty good idea of what was going on here. Soul transmigration! As! A rich boy in the ancient era! I''d read a ton of novels like this! Well, not like this, specifically; protagonists are usually on the thin side after all. But at least three chubby examples came to mind. After a little more thinking, one was a Japanese story with a Western setting, and another had gone on and on about how rough the protagonist''s skin was before he lost weight. If this was a world that I knew - if I was the protagonist and not a side character - then the only one left was¡­ ¡°Rong Xiugang.¡± I mumbled it out loud, wanting to hear my new voice. A shiver ran down my back, but I didn''t pay it too much mind. I was trying to remember the story; I vaguely felt that it was one of those two thousand chapter monstrosities I couldn''t finish. I think I had been fascinated by the beginning, though. It was definitely a xuanhuan novel, with revenge as a theme¡­ Right! Rong Xiugang was a bitter and tragic time-traveling protagonist. The narration was third person omniscient- sometimes it would reveal some misunderstanding to the readers, so we''d get to watch Rong Xiugang make mistakes based on his wrongful past knowledge. There wasn''t too much faceslapping, and he didn''t attract hordes of dimwitted followers. There were some cool creatures in the first parts, as well. But, it was his family circumstances that originally caught my attention as they were different from many other web novels. Originally Rong Xiugang was raised as the spoiled eldest son of a prominent cultivator - but actually, nothing in his life was as he thought! His father wasn''t his father, his loving stepmother was secretly scheming against him, his cute little brother coveted his things, and even his dead mother was actually alive somewhere. She had merely abandoned him to her green hat husband. His friends stabbed him in the back, his fiancee betrayed him, and it wasn''t worth mentioning how his mentor screwed him over. Every person Rong Xiugang dared to trust carved a new wound on him. It was a thorough blackening. I was pretty sure the story started with his death at the hands of a woman. I couldn''t remember her name, and I wasn''t sure what she meant to him - it''s not like she was the only person to try to kill him - and after dying, the bitter Rong Xiugang woke up to find he had become a twelve year old all over again. If I didn''t miss my guess, I''d also become a twelve year old version of him. Getting up, I looked for a robe and shoes. It was a little chilly even with my extra insulation; I stepped out into a neat courtyard and lifted my eyes. It was the break of dawn, but the blue tinge was limited to the eastern horizon. I couldn''t help but be dazzled by how many stars there were in this ancient sky; even at this hour, with lanterns overhead, I thought I could spot the Milky Way. The floor had creaked under my feet, and after a few minutes, someone else came out. A young woman dressed in plain cotton, rubbing at her eye, called out to me; ¡°Young master? It is very early¡­¡± She seemed to be a servant, and for a moment I was glad to see her. This way, I could quickly confirm my age and identity. However¡­ I had no idea how to address her. What was her name again? An answer floated up. ¡°A¡¯Sisi,¡± I tried. From her expression of mild expectation, it didn''t seem to be the wrong name. ¡°I want to go out for a walk.¡± Sisi¡¯s mouth twisted. ¡°Young master Rong, at this hour?¡± Her tone was a little too familiar, but I wasn''t worried about it - this really was the Rong family! ¡°Am I so young that I can''t go for a walk?¡± I asked, trying to sound whiny instead of excited while I fished for information. ¡°It isn''t that, but, if it''s outside of the Rong family, the Madam doesn''t want the young master to go alone¡­¡± ¡°I wanna go with gege,¡± A sleepy voice said (1). I felt a wave of anger flow through my body at the sound, my fist and teeth clenching automatically. It was a little off-putting, but I decided that it must be cuteness aggression. After all, this was the first time I''d had a little brother! His hair was mussed on one side as he slipped out into the courtyard, and as someone that had always been good with kids, I really wanted to pinch his cheeks. ¡°Hmm, is my little brother old enough to go exploring?¡± ¡°Gege, I''m already nine!¡± the boy complained. Rong Xiujian, one of Rong Xiugang¡¯s worst enemies, was three years younger than him. I felt like this was pretty solid proof that I''d guessed correctly. The timing seemed to be accurate as well. Xiujian was an antagonist, but a sympathetic character if you thought about it. After all, Rong Xiujian was the real first son of the family, born to Rong Yutang and his first wife Yu Qianqian. The things he took from the protagonist, they weren''t earned by the protagonist anyway; they had all been given to Rong Xiugang by Xiujian''s parents. Also, Xiujian waited until his older brother had been missing for six years to marry Xiugang¡¯s fiancee; wasn''t that pretty considerate? ¡°Second young master,¡± Sisi greeted him, a little more polite. ¡°Can I suggest that the two of you take a walk in the gardens? Later, a guard can be arranged, but you must return before noon.¡± I sighed, but nodded. As Sisi bowed, I walked over and offered my hand to Xiujian. When he took it, I noticed that his little hands were faintly warm and sticky in the way of all children. He held on to my fingers tightly, showing his reliance. It warmed my heart, my teeth clenching again involuntarily. The two step-brothers had a pretty good relationship in the original timeline. Xiugang was a spoiled brat, but Xiujian was like his little lieutenant. It''s really sad that things would change so much. I let Xiujian lead the way since I didn''t know this place at all. He was yawning, but he started to talk soon, rambling about training and recent events and what would be happening later today. He didn''t need much of a response to keep going, and his words helped to jog my memory. ¡°Father''s birthday banquet is gonna be so boring, right?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± Right! Rong Xiugang was reborn on his stepfather¡¯s birthday - a day that served as the beginning of the end of his easy life. ¡°Everyone just comes to suck up ¡®cause he''s the strongest. I don''t know why we have to be polite to people like that. They''re so annoying!¡± Rong Yutang was the most powerful cultivator in Guoyang town, bar none. Thus his birthday was always a lavish event. Early gifts had started to arrive the month before. ¡°A¡¯Jian, it''s not like you have to talk to them. You can play shy.¡± I was a little worried that this form of address would come off weird, but he didn''t seem to notice anything was strange. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Hmmph. I meant father shouldn''t have to put up with those guys. Augh! You know what I heard?!¡± I made a noise of interest, and Xiujian continued right away, getting quite passionate. ¡°Old Lu heard from a servant in the Zhang household that the old fart there got drunk last week and was making fun of father.¡± Another little yawn broke through, and I locked my jaw so I wouldn''t copy him. ¡°That guy, he said it was ridiculous to have such a big banquet for an orphan. Can you believe that?!¡± ¡°Rumors aren''t always truth,¡± I said, and then realized a second later that it wasn''t something Xiugang would have said. Xiujian had stopped in place to stare, so I backtracked. ¡°That guy is too much of a coward to say anything to father''s face, and even if he said it behind his back, it''s just jealousy.¡± ¡°Hmmph!¡± Slowly remembering the details, I squeezed Xiujian¡¯s hand. ¡°He probably wishes he were half as brave as Father. If something like that happened to his family, would the Zhang household ever make a comeback?¡± ¡°Never!¡± Most families here were multigenerational, but the current patriarch of the Rong clan, Rong Yutang, was rather unlucky. In the novel, it was revealed that he was the only survivor of an attack by demonic cultivators that wanted to claim the Mount Guo area as their territory. His family had been the major cultivation clan of this county for more than a century, and he was able to sneak away with many of the family treasures and texts - with his talent and those resources in hand, it took him less than twenty years to take back his family home. He would have made a pretty good protagonist in his own right; Rong Yutang had all the makings of a good story, so I thought it was a shame that he was just a cuckold background character here. ¡°Gege, you know, I heard something else he said too. You really can''t make excuses for that Zhang family! Because they were even talking about, um.¡± His voice dropped. ¡°About mother, and Aunt Yue.¡± Ah. Yeah, the real twelve year old Rong Xiugang would have been furious about that. But¡­ I didn''t know what to say at all. Rong Yutang had met both of his wives while he was very young, and genuinely loved them both. His first wife Yu Qianqian belonged to an old vassal family of the Rong clan, and her Yu family helped him when he came back to chase the demonic cultivators out. Yu Qianqian had married late for waiting for him, as they had an unofficial agreement in place before the Rong family''s demise. His second wife, Lan Yue, he met while on the run. It was her that healed the wounds he received when his family was attacked. As the only disciple of the country¡¯s greatest doctor Lan Yue had been able to hide him well and aid him in his cultivation. It was just a shame that she wasn''t fated to stay with him. The circumstances of Rong Xiugang¡¯s birth seemed to be pretty unique for a xianxia protagonist. His mother was a strange person, devoted first to the path of medicine and secondly to living freely. I''m trying to put things nicely. She helped Rong Yutang because he was handsome, and accepted his marriage proposal when he tracked her down. But a month before the wedding, Lan Yue slept with a demonic cultivator and became pregnant! Out of! Wedlock! She delayed childbirth a few months to ensure that Rong Xiugang would be treated as a legitimate son, and then after a year or so, Lan Yue faked her death and disappeared. Yu Qianqian, as Xiugang¡¯s stepmother, was naturally an antagonist. However, she was also a little sympathetic. When Lan Yue faked her death, most people thought that Yu Qianqian had secretly killed her, and even Rong Yutang had doubts. It was well known that Yu Qianqian was unhappy that her husband that she had waited so long for, had gone on a trip for more than a year to bring back a second wife. In the first place, it wasn''t usual for there to be two legitimate wives. Yu Qianqian had given birth to his first child the year before, his eldest daughter Xiumei. Even aside from the discomfort of sharing a husband, I felt that it was natural for her to resent being left alone with a young child. Under suspicion for the second wife''s death, Yu Qianqian was naturally not happy to raise that second wife''s son. But she was smarter than most stepmothers in fiction; she knew there was only punishment waiting if she wronged the child. She took to the task of raising Rong Xiugang very earnestly, giving him all of the best things and even things from her own dowry. Yu Qianqian chose the name Gang for him from the name of her own esteemed grandfather that had sacrificed himself to save Rong Yutang, making it clear to all that she was treating him as her real son. When she became pregnant again, Yu Qianqian still made sure to prioritize the eldest son. The name Jian for Xiujian was chosen to match Gang, and she urged the three year old to play her son often. It seemed like she was a much better mother to him than his real one. Unfortunately, her attitude couldn''t stay so good forever. At the age of five, Rong Xiugang''s spirit roots were tested and found lacking. Unlike Rong Yutang¡¯s astounding talent, his first son was barely able to cultivate. Rong Yutang was devastated by this. For years it had been his goal to restore his clan, and his childrens¡¯ strength was crucial to this. Still, when he saw Xiugang cry, saw Xiujian comfort him, he called for Xiumei too and found some words to say. ¡°There are many worthwhile paths in this world, not just the path of cultivation. In the future, the three of you will support each other.¡± Xiujian was just a toddler, and he didn''t understand what was going on, but was always the one to cry the loudest. So Rong Yutang comforted him especially, saying something like, ¡°One day, you''ll be the one to look out for and protect your older brother.¡± To Yu Qianqian, this kind of talk naturally awoke some hope of seeing her real son become the head of the family. In the name of comforting Xiugang, she began to ply him with sweets and encourage him to pursue fun over his studies. The twelve year old Xiugang of the original timeline had been chubby, spoiled, arrogant, and ignorant as a result. ¡°Gege? Gang-gege?¡± ¡°About mother and Aunt Lue¡¯s matters¡­¡± Blankly repeating after Xiujian, I still couldn''t think of anything to say. Xiujian was waiting for my anger, I think, but he eventually got impatient and stamped his little foot. ¡°Maybe we should tell father! I hope father kills him!¡± ¡°Mmmn¡­¡± ¡°Gege, what''s with you? Are you sick?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­¡± ¡°Okay, let''s get out of the cold first! A¡¯Sisi can help, you have to feel better soon! You have to go to the banquet!¡± I remembered only a little bit about Rong Yutang''s birthday banquet, but maybe it was best to play sick and stay out of it. I also had to think a little about what to do now. ________________ (1) Gege ¸ç¸ç: a less formal way to say older brother Chapter Two After being transmigrated into the body of a revenge novel protagonist, I was a little excited. It took a while to realize that I really didn''t have the skills for this. ¡°There doesn''t seem to be anything wrong with the young master,¡± A young man said helplessly, still holding my wrist. ¡°Well, why''s he being timid, then?!¡± My new little brother Xiujian demanded to know. This was the third person that had been called to check on me. Sisi, a servant in our courtyard, had been quick to pronounce me healthy. So had the second woman. ¡°It''s nothing physical, just let it go,¡± I urged Xiujian also, feeling awkward. He bumped me with his shoulder, scowling, but sent the servants out. ¡°Well, whatever! I''ll tell mother and Instructor Yao, so you rest, okay? I don''t want to go to the banquet if you don''t go. You have to feel better soon!¡± I''d wanted a moment to myself, so I took it, nodding and mussing Xiujian¡¯s hair a little. He was really too cute, acting offended and leaving quickly. But¡­ once I was alone, I still really didn''t know what to do. I sort of remembered why Rong Yutang¡¯s birthday banquet was a big deal; some of Xiugang¡¯s early enemies made their appearance, like his fiancee and his stepsister, and he made some mistake that put him out of favor with his father. Not knowing what the mistake was, not remembering how Xiugang interacted with others, I was a little afraid to go out. I also didn''t know why I''d ended up here. Didn''t transmigrators usually have a system or something? Or see a dream? Shouldn''t I at least receive some kind of heavenly guidance?? ¡°Rong Xiugang, ah, what do I do,¡± I asked out loud, flopping onto the bed. This time, when my spine tingled and something echoed in the back of my mind, I took notice. ¡°Rong Xiugang,¡± I repeated again, sitting up. This time, I heard it clearly. Xiao Qiang. It''s Xiao Qiang. ¡°Xiao Qiang ah?¡± I said, and felt a ripple of surprise that didn''t belong to me. My own emotions were closer to relief, amusement; This name was a pretty memorable one (1). Though the protagonist was called Rong Xiugang at first, as I mentioned, this name wasn''t suitable for him. He wasn''t actually Rong Yutang''s son, and the generation name Xiu belonged to that Rong family also (2). As for Gang, his personal name had come from his stepmother''s Yu family. In the novel, once he traveled back in time, he quickly brought the Rong and Yu families to ruin. Afterwards he naturally rebranded himself, returning to his baby name, Qiang (3). ¡°You time-traveled?¡± I asked him, since he clearly could hear me. Then, realizing something else, I added in a sharp voice, ¡°A second time?¡± The little voice was silent, but¡­ the feeling that crept over me wasn''t good. Well, of course he didn''t feel good, and I didn''t either. For one second I thought I''d been reborn at the exact start of the novel, with the reborn protagonist in here with me. But, if this was only his second life, he would have used his mother''s name, calling himself Lan Qiang! It wasn''t until later in the novel that he learned his real father''s surname was Xiao. So, to call himself Xiao Qiang, this must be his second time around. And that meant he was the dangerous guy who toppled families and righteous sects left and right, on a tragic quest where he became more and more outrageously petty. Well, crap. But I decided to try talking with him anyway. ¡°Well, Xiao Qiang, I don''t know how I got here, but¡­ I''m here for now.¡± You aren''t me. ¡°Mmn, I''m not. Oh, I''m pretty sure I died, but, as for how I woke up here..?¡± How do you know about me? Was naturally the next question he asked. There was a tap on the door, which saved me from trying to answer him. ¡°Little Gang? May I enter?¡± The voice was a little cloying; I had a guess even before I heard Xiao Qiang hiss out Yu Qianqian! ¡°Mother, or should I call her something else?¡± I mumbled. The only response was a wave of anger, one I suddenly realized was the same as when I met Rong Xiujian. Yu Qianqian didn''t wait long for an answer, quietly letting herself in with Sisi right behind her. ¡°My dear son, are you well? Are you in any pain? Do you want any breakfast? We were going to eat lightly this morning, but your mother will bring you anything you want.¡± Yu Qianqian promised, coming to sit beside me on the bed. She spoke quickly, and I felt that she would be a little difficult to deal with. ¡°Just¡­ I feel a little weird. It doesn''t hurt.¡± I mumbled. I couldn''t quite meet her eyes, so I looked at her sleeves while she took my hand. Coming from the modern era, I had a faint idea of what ancient clothes were like, but her sleeves really were astoundingly luxurious. A faint metallic sheen on the embroidery left me wondering if gold really could be spun into such fine threads; the embroidered trees and floating flowers didn''t seem to add any weight to the thin silk. I didn''t see any loose or pulling threads, either. It wasn''t anything like the bulky embroidery I''d done before with supermarket thread. Besides, it was gold on a cream color robe, very subtle and elegant, while my embroidery attempts were usually bold colors on bright cloth. Yu Qianqian was talking again, I realized. ¡° - your father would understand. Well, what do you think?¡± She paused briefly, and I looked up at her. I was a little surprised by how young she looked, before I remembered that Yu Qianqian also cultivated in her youth. Seeing my blank look, she patted my hand and softened her expression. ¡°Okay, don''t worry about anything. I''ll have breakfast brought to you, dear, and we''ll see if a better doctor can check in on you. Please send for me if you''re in any pain. I would stay with you a while longer, but there''s more to prepare for this afternoon. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Mmn,¡± I said, and awkwardly patted her hand back. This seemed to be a good reaction - she smiled and gently squeezed my arm. I ignored the goosebumps that appeared right after. ¡°You haven''t been this quiet and obedient since you were little,¡± Yu Qianqian said, seeming nostalgic. She then stood up and turned to Sisi, thankfully missing how my jaw clenched against my will. She became much more businesslike. ¡°Keep a close eye on the young master, don''t let him experience any discomfort. Don''t pressure him either. Anything he asks for, bring it to him.¡± Sisi bowed and murmured her assent, keeping her eyes on the ground. Yu Qianqian turned to look at me from the doorway, and although I knew her expression was not entirely genuine, I couldn''t help but blurt out, ¡°Mother, thank you.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Those few words startled her, her soft smile fading for a moment to reveal something a little hard to read. ¡°You silly boy,¡± she said, shaking her head. Embarrassed, I looked away until I heard the door close and her soft steps leaving. ¡°So,¡± Sisi said slowly, moving to lean against the wall. One eyebrow was raised. ¡°What''s all this about?¡± I had kind of noticed before, but she was a little direct with Rong Xiugang. Sisi seemed to be in her late teens, not especially pretty but not bad-looking, and I wasn''t sure why she was so confident. Xiao Gang suddenly spoke up, giving me words to say. ¡°What do you think it''s about?¡± I said, trying my best to copy even his irritable tone. ¡°Anyway, mother said I don''t have to go, so I don''t have to go.¡± ¡°Hey, are you serious? Yesterday you wanted to go so badly, you even said you''d starve yourself if you couldn''t join the adult¡¯s table. Your father agreed, but now you''re chickening out? Did something happen?¡± It took me a second to answer, because I wasn''t sure I wanted to repeat what Xiao Gang said next. Instead, I said, ¡°I know, I know, I was childish, okay? And now I want to hide my face for a while.¡± Sisi wrinkled her nose. I was really struck by how disrespectful she was towards me, compared with others. Sisi came to the Rong household with my mother, Xiao Qiang suddenly explained, seeming to recognize my thoughts. She''s the only one that knew anything about her, so she became my confidante. I let her get away with a lot. Ah. Maybe Sisi was in the novel after all; I thought I could remember a minor detail about someone like that dying, or maybe just going missing. ¡°Yeah, I don''t believe it,¡± Sisi decided. ¡°What actually happened? Did you get bullied yesterday?¡± I had no clue what had happened the day before, but I''d gotten a feel for how to act now. ¡°Just leave,¡± I huffed. ¡°Don''t you have some work to do?¡± ¡°Fine. Don''t tell me. I can guess, anyway.¡± Sisi acted for a moment like she might slam the door around, but thought better of it, leaving quietly. So. You let that woman push you around? ¡°Sisi?¡± Yu Qianqian, he spat out. Oh. ¡°It¡¯s just, I haven''t had a mother in a long time,¡± I answered, a little defensive. She''s not your mother, and she''s not even my mother, Xiao Qiang points out. She''s nothing but a scheming old woman. ¡°...¡± I kind of wanted to argue, but realized right away that it would be stupid to do so. Anyway, we needed to get back to the topic. ¡°Xiao Qiang, how did you travel back a second time? Did you die again?¡± How do you know about that? ¡°Answer my question first,¡± I said. I expected the teeth-clenching wave of aggression that followed. You know who I am, but you dare to speak to me like this? Well, Xiao Qiang was a little scary, but¡­ he didn''t seem to be able to do anything to me, and hadn''t taken control from me, so I decided to enjoy my advantage. I waited silently. After a minute, Xiao Qiang settled down. I didn''t die, he said. How do you know about me? He had compromised, giving one answer. ¡°I read a lot about you in a strange book,¡± I told him in return, figuring he could believe it or not. My spine tingled again. ¡°Well, if you didn''t die, then what happened?¡± I found a strange book. ¡°Are you going off my answer?¡± I asked blankly, although I felt that he was probably telling the truth. I could also tell that he felt like I was mocking him. ¡°Okay, so I read a book and you found a book, and now we''re both here. Can you control the body at all?¡± My jaw locked up, my body tensed, but I remained seated on the bed. After giving him another second to try, I forced the body to relax, feeling very relieved. Can you give me control? ¡°No way,¡± I said without thinking. ¡°Well, I wouldn''t know how to.¡± ¡­I suppose you haven''t possessed anyone before. ¡°Mmn, no.¡± Xiao Qiang was frustrated. Who are you? ¡°Like my name?¡± I was a little scared to tell him. I was pretty sure I''d heard of stories where knowing a dead person''s name gave power over them, and I didn''t want to risk it. What sect did you belong to? ¡°Oh. Um¡­ I''m not a cultivator. I''m just an ordinary person.¡± It was awkward for both of us. ¡°Um, anyway, the situation is like this. So what should we do?¡± That book¡­ you were able to read it. ¡°Yeah.¡± It didn''t seem to be a question but I thought it was good to give some kind of answer. What do you want to do? I winced a little, before remembering that he could feel that. ¡°I want to live.¡± He waited for me to elaborate, so eventually I said, ¡°It¡¯d also be cool to see magical creatures, make elixirs, and exorcise demons. Maybe when I get my own body -¡± Be careful what you say, he warned me. Right, just because I couldn''t hear anyone nearby, didn''t mean there wasn''t anyone. ¡°Right. Um. Yeah. What do you want to do?¡± You recognize the name Xiao Qiang, and you seem to know some of the affairs of the Rong family. Can''t you guess? ¡°Seriously?¡± I asked, though I was not surprised. ¡°You already got revenge on everyone once, didn''t you? What''s the point of doing it twice?¡± It was exasperating how wasteful he could be with his life; was it because this was his third chance? ¡°Why don''t you do something better this time? Like, let''s track down your - the lady that went missing nine years ago. Talk with her before she dies.¡± The body reacted to that statement, but his emotion was difficult to interpret. So, I continued on. ¡°Also, there were times when that book revealed you had misunderstood someone. Some of the things you think you know are still wrong. You could go looking for the real truth.¡± What could I have been wrong about? His confidence made me want to roll my eyes. ¡°Well, there''s a lot, but let''s start with Nie-¡± Wait. You shouldn''t say that name out loud either. I scowled, and then remembered - right. Rong Xiugang would meet her for the first time later on, at the banquet. It would be hard to explain how I knew about her already if we were overheard. ¡°Okay. Right, all the more reason not to go out today.¡± Even if it''s not today, Yu Qianqian will bring her by later on, Xiao Qiang reminded me. ¡°Mmn.¡± I got up and walked around the large bedroom, feeling uncomfortable from all the sitting around. My steps were loud, and I struggled to soften them. ¡°We need to lose weight¡­¡± ¡°Now you say that,¡± Sisi¡¯s voice came from beyond the door, startling me. She came in backwards, holding a tray. ¡°Well, are you serious, or will you change your mind tomorrow too?¡± ¡°Hey,¡± I started to argue, but got distracted. There were a lot of dishes crammed onto the one tray; at a glance, many desserts and fatty portions of gleaming meat. ¡°Is all of that for me?¡± ¡°You want more?¡± ¡°Less please,¡± I said without thinking. Don''t be polite with her. ¡°You''re sick of seeing me like this too, right? You eat half.¡± Sisi scoffed, closing the door with her foot and then smoothly moving to set the tray directly onto the bed. ¡°I think you''ll be ugly even if you lose weight. Anyway, I can''t eat with you. Just exercise more.¡± ¡°Do we have a dog? Can I feed it to them?¡± Sisi gave a mean side-eye. ¡°I hate dogs,¡± she said. ¡°You get one, I leave.¡± Well, the food was both hard to eat, and hard not to eat. As I expected, it was oily, rich, sweet and sweet. There wasn''t much for real flavor or nutrition, and everything felt heavy. I still ate half of the tray without thinking, only coming to my senses then and pushing the rest away. Sisi''s smile was a bit sarcastic as she took it and left. Whatever. I did a few stretches on the floor, noting that this body was actually pretty limber. Well, at eight years old, I''d still been able to tuck an ankle behind my neck; this was probably normal for kids, right? I need to find a way to seize control, I could hear Xiao Qiang murmur in the back of my mind. No martial arts training¡­ ¡°Right. This Rong Xiugang should have been training for a few years, but I don''t know anything. Can you give me some advice?¡± I didn''t know if he had wanted me to hear him or not, but it was still important to ask. Do you think it''s just a matter of advice? Fair enough, but wasn''t I allowed to dream? ¡°Well, it doesn''t have to be about martial arts. I don''t know how to give you control, and if you don''t help me with the Rong family, maybe we''ll both die before you can work something out. And who knows if you''ll get a fourth chance or not; I''m thinking not.¡± His displeasure was felt as my lips pressed themselves together, my eyelids drooping slightly. ¡°So¡­ let''s get through this together, and then try to find a way to go our separate ways. After that, you can pursue your goals and I can pursue mine. Is that okay?¡± Though I could tell he was unwilling, Xiao Qiang said, Alright. ¡°Well¡­ as you said before, I probably do have to make at least a small appearance at the banquet. There will also be a chance to show you what you were wrong about, later on. So. Looking forward to our cooperation!¡± _____________ (1) The tones are different, but ÏôÇ¿ xi¨¡o qi¨¢ng and Сǿ xi¨£o qi¨¢ng sound a little similar, with the former being a person''s name but the latter being a reference to a pet cockroach in a 1993 movie, ¡°Flirting Scholar¡±. Сǿ has since been used as a nickname for indestructible/reviving characters, and can also be translated as Little Strong / Little Qiang. The narrator¡¯s amusement is partially because of this. (2) Chinese families will sometimes use a sort of middle name to indicate the members of one generation within a family. See the Wikipedia page for ¡°Generation Name¡± (3) In ancient China, a baby¡¯s real name would be decided later on, and in the meantime the child would be called by a childhood name. Ruming ÈéÃû or naiming ÄÌÃû, literally ¡°milk name¡± Chapter Three Rong Yutang¡¯s forty-seventh birthday was a beautiful spring day with clear skies, floating blossoms, and singing birds. However, I felt that we would have been better able to appreciate the scenery if half the county hadn''t crammed themselves onto the Rong property. The banquet had been going on for a couple of hours now, and the sun was sitting just above the ring of mountains. All kinds of instruments could be heard from the Rong family¡¯s largest garden, as several families had taken this chance to show off their daughters. No one had forgotten how Rong Yutang had brought in a second legal wife without caring about local customs, but none of them could afford to be upset with him. Many looked at this decision of his as an opportunity. Yu Qianqian was seated under a canopy at the edge of the garden, her smile rigid as she watched the performances. A richly dressed girl with a sword at her belt stood beside her, massaging Yu Qianqian¡¯s hand; Rong Xiumei, Xiao Qiang confirmed, and I forced myself to stay relaxed. The first to notice me was the bored little kid on her other side. Our cute little brother, Rong Xiujian, looked very neat now with his hair tied up. His face lit up with a smile when he saw me, and he straightened out his shoulders. Bearing in mind that I had been playing sick all day, I made my way over slowly. I still couldn''t help but pat his head, earning a grumpy little noise from him. ¡°Mother, Dajie (1), A¡¯Jian.¡± I greeted them. I didn''t bother to smile, and adjusted myself according to the instructions from the voice in the back of my head. ¡°Little brother, are you well?¡± Xiumei asked without ever looking over. Her tone was a little like Sisi¡¯s, very perfunctory, and I had to wonder - how many sarcastic women did Rong Xiumei know? ¡°Little Gang! Come come, sit. Jian¡¯er, make room for him for now, and you -¡± Yu Qianqian pointed out a nearby servant, ¡°- bring another chair. Quickly, quickly.¡± ¡°Don''t mind me,¡± is what I wanted to say, because the situation felt a little messy. But on Xiao Qiang¡¯s advice, I just took the seat, and Yu Qianqian took my hand right away. ¡°Little Gang is right on time. There''s many great talents today,¡± she said with a strained smile. ¡°They''re gaudy,¡± I criticized immediately, and made sure to glare at the young lady currently playing the qin. Yu Qianqian shook her head like she knew she was supposed to scold me, but of course, she also felt that way. My next line was harder to deliver, but I persevered. ¡°Next year we should just hire some performers instead of letting these ugly country girls put on a farce.¡± I noticed a nearby man turn towards me at those words, and Xiao Qiang saw fit to let me know that this was the performer''s father. I felt guilty right away, but¡­ what could I do. ¡°That''s a very good idea,¡± Xiumei said, her voice flat. ¡°Actually, I had the same thought last week. I asked Uncle Sheng, and he''s brought a few good people today. They''ll be performing last.¡± ¡°You two¡­ you''re so considerate to this old woman,¡± Yu Qianqian sighed, squeezing both of our hands. Not to be left out, Rong Xiujian pitched in, ¡°If any of these hussies try to trip and fall on father this year, I''ll beat them black and blue for you, Mother!¡± ¡°Jian¡¯er, you can''t hit women¡­¡± chiding words, but his mother sounded proud of him. I noticed that Rong Xiumei¡¯s scowl grew more pronounced. I remembered a little bit about her from the novel. Rong Xiumei was the oldest, and had the most talent; but just because she was born a woman her mother considered her unreliable. Though Yu Qianqian had told her about the plan to spoil Xiugang into becoming a waste, Xiumei was too proud to get involved in such things and just avoided him. Oh - and two months before this banquet, she''d entered the Mt. Guo sect, passing their admissions test with flying colors; Xiumei obtained the sword now at her side during the course of that test. It was a rather famous sword supposedly, but I couldn''t remember the name of it. Just know that it should have been a big deal for the Rong family. Anyway, returning home today after making such achievements, Rong Xiumei hardly heard any words of praise from her mother and hadn¡¯t spoken with her busy father; naturally she was quite bitter. Once again reminded that her mother looked down on women, it couldn''t be comfortable. Xiao Qiang didn''t allow me to dwell on this. He directed my attention to the line of performers, counting them out and then describing her clothing to ensure that I knew which one was Nie Yilian. Xiao Qiang and I were sharing this body for now, and had agreed to some compromises. He didn''t believe me when I told him that he''d misunderstood Nie Yilian - when I said she didn''t deserve to be blamed for going back on their engagement and marrying Rong Xiujian instead. Xiao Qiang wanted to see me prove it. Nie Yilian wasn''t hard to find. She was waiting quietly, her eyes lowered and her shoulders straight, and her aura was uniquely peaceful. She wore pastel colors, and seemed slightly underdressed amidst the crowd of eager and anxious people all wearing their best. Her outfit should have been chosen by the Yu family in accordance with what they knew about Rong Xiugang¡¯s tastes. I was a little uncomfortable looking at her, so I moved my eyes away. A man sitting in the least crowded area by the stage turned and stretched; when our eyes met, he waggled his eyebrows at me like he was curious about something. I couldn''t help but smile a little. Father, Xiao Qiang said a little wistfully, before correcting himself. Rong Yutang. He should be almost fifty, but this man looked to be less than half that; his eyes were open and friendly, closely resembling Xiujian¡¯s in shape. Very handsome. It seemed that he, at least, was having a good time; someone nearby said something, and Rong Yutang laughed and turned back around. This was the only person Xiao Qiang didn''t resent from his childhood. Still, it was surely awkward for him to see his stepfather again. I focused again on his stepmother and siblings, continuing to make snide remarks with them about the entertainment even though I felt uncomfortable. Rong Yutang came to join us just before Nie Yilian took the stage, and Xiumei was instantly more alert, shifting so that the sword on her hip was more visible. ¡°Happy birthday, father,¡± I said, and he squeezed my shoulder. ¡°A¡¯Gang, are you feeling better now?¡± His voice held a teasing note, which was better than the accusation or hurt that I expected. I gave an awkward laugh, which worked as a response; Rong Yutang moved on to the next in line. He seemed quite physically affectionate, tugging on Xiujian''s hair and kissing Yu Qianqian¡¯s hand. Rong Yutang waved off an offer of a chair, standing beside Xiumei instead so that he could gently knock shoulders with her. It was worth noting that the two were nearly the same height, even though Xiumei was just fifteen. ¡°Father, are you having a good time?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°This performer, she is a young talent that Uncle Sheng found. Her name is Nie Yilian,¡± Xiumei introduced. Her expression had lightened considerably. ¡°The next three performers are also¡­¡± Yu Qianqian discreetly pinched my sleeve while they spoke. ¡°What do you think of her?¡± Obediently, I followed her gaze to the stage. Nie Yilian did have a nice face; she had double-lidded, upturned eyes and a thin nose. I tried to look interested as she began to sing, but this was very awkward. After all, she''s a child. Also¡­ I still had some misgivings about this. Showing interest in Nie Yilian wasn''t good for her or for me, but unfortunately, I needed to make a good show. Xiao Qiang was being very accommodating, but I knew that there was no trust between us. He just didn''t have much of a choice at the moment aside from working with me. The second he gained some power, I knew that I would see a very different version of him; that''s why I absolutely had to show some value here! Showing him plainly where his information was wrong, and where mine was right! To that end, the misunderstanding about Nie Yilian was definitely the easiest place to start. Yu Qianqian lightly pinched me again, and I acted startled, trying to summon up a blush also. ¡°What? Oh. Well, hmm, much more professional. She''s young but, she''s clearly been training her voice¡­¡± Yu Qianqian laughed, and I was definitely blushing then. This was much more embarrassing than I''d expected. ¡°Well, since Little Gang is impressed, we can hire her for your birthday also.¡± She teased. ¡°Can she come to mine too?¡± Xiujian threw in. Unlike me, he really couldn''t take his eyes off the stage. It seemed that he really was fated to like Nie Yilian. The next two performers were adults, and they played beautifully and solemnly, making many of the previous ones feel embarrassed. Rong Yutang wasn''t paying them much mind, though; he was joking with his daughter and wife. Only Xiujian was still worrying about me. ¡°Gege, are you feeling sick again? You''re so quiet.¡± ¡°Mmn, a little¡­¡± Finally seeing a chance to leave, I said quick goodbyes, waved awkwardly to the people Xiao Qiang said I should wave to, and then I slipped out onto the tree-lined path that led back to my room. I wasn''t fast enough. I didn''t get very far before an older man called out to me. ¡°Isn''t this Rong Xiugang ah? My, you''ve certainly gotten¡­ bigger. Do you remember me?¡± Zhang Yong. So he found you after all. Ah, so this was the head of the Zhang household that Xiujian told me about. I was really hoping not to cross paths with this guy. In the original storyline, Yu Qianqian had deliberately spread two rumors in the week before this banquet. On the one hand, there was the rumor that Xiujian told me - that the Zhang head of household was privately mocking Rong Yutang and his two wives. But, there was also a rumor saying that Rong Xiugang had bullied Zhang¡¯s little grandson after the boy was revealed to have strong spirit roots, envying the child who was now known as the third best potential in town. Old Zhang treasured that boy and had placed all of his hopes on him; although his grandson insisted that Rong Xiugang wasn''t the one that beat him, since the boy couldn''t say who had done it, Old Zhang believed in the rumor. He came today to look for revenge, and in the original timeline he had managed to embarrass Rong Xiugang quite spectacularly. Awkwardly, I greeted him. As expected, he was quick to look for an angle from which he could attack. ¡°So many people today expressed hopes for the future growth of the Rong family, but I was a little worried, hearing that you were too sick to come. It''s good to see that you''re healthy now. As the oldest son, remember that your parents are relying on you.¡± My translation: ¡°You useless, lazy thing, how dare you try to hide from me after harming my grandson? Don''t you know how weak you are? When the Rong family falls, you''ll be responsible, and my Zhang family will happily profit.¡± I glanced around, hoping to find an out before he could talk me into a trap. I wasn''t the best with those things, so I needed to end this while he was still being polite. Inspiration struck when I looked toward the garden. ¡°Elder, I thank you for your concern for me and the family! But the Rong family is definitely going to grow stronger from here,¡± I said, smiling broadly as I made a grateful gesture. ¡°Oh?¡± he said, a mocking smile forming as he looked me up and down. It was a clear provocation, and I could feel Xiao Qiang reacting faintly, starting to give some instructions that I didn''t bother to listen to. ¡°Elder, you haven''t heard? Don''t tell me you don''t know what sword that is?¡± I said, gesturing over toward where Rong Xiumei now stood, at the entrance to the garden. She seemed to hear me, which I didn''t expect at this distance, but I still rolled onward. ¡°Even if I was sickly for the rest of my life, with my sister around, of course a beautiful future for the Rong family is guaranteed!¡± Old Zhang and Xiao Qiang both were taken aback; it was still weird to feel someone else''s surprise in my body. The old man recovered quickly, but was a little reckless in saying, ¡°Your sister? Xiugang, what are you saying? How can a woman be the future of your Rong family?¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°How dare you!¡± I cried out, because I didn''t think I could afford to respond calmly to that if Xiumei was listening. ¡°This is the Rong family, you think there aren''t any young men willing to marry in? My sister is beautiful, smart, and talented, far better than the others in her generation! Anywhere she wants to go she can go, but if she wants to stay, who could force her out?¡± Old Zhang sputtered, probably about to make a fuss of how disrespectful I was. ¡°Well said!¡± A woman¡¯s hoarse voice rang out, and Xiao Qiang caused my eyebrows to jump up slightly. That''s one of Mt. Guo¡¯s elders, Zeng Xia - she rarely comes down from the mountains. I didn''t know she was in attendance. Rong Xiumei had already started this way, but upon hearing that voice, she nearly tripped. Zeng Xia continued anyway; ¡°That sword belonged to our Mt. Guo sect¡¯s founder. For three hundred years, disciples have been trying to pull his blade from the wall, hoping to inherit his strength. To think that the one to finally succeed would be Rong Yutang¡¯s first daughter, Rong Xiumei! The Rong family¡¯s time has really come.¡± Old Zhang¡¯s face was quite sour, but he forced a smile. After mumbling some not-apologies, and hearing mine, he left; no matter how much he wanted to fight me, he didn''t dare to do it in front of this Zeng Xia. I also got to see a blushing Rong Xiumei struggle to thank Zeng Xia for her kind words. Judging by their conversation, Rong Xiumei had never met Zeng Xia before, but it was clear that she held a deep admiration for her. She appeared to be mere seconds from squealing into her hands and begging the elder for an autograph. I left them to it, making it back to my courtyard safely this time. It would''ve been nice if the night had ended like that, but unfortunately, there was still something I needed Xiao Qiang to witness. After waiting about the length of an incense stick, I slipped back out of the room and followed Xiao Qiang¡¯s directions to Rong Xiumei¡¯s quarters. She had recently received a new building, one made of stone. There weren''t guards, just a minor formation to keep people out of her new study; I wished I could have seen the formation, but this body was not yet sensitive to qi. Still, with Xiao Qiang''s help I made it through easily. Xiumei had received many talismans as gifts, and they were piled carelessly on a desk with a rock to hold them down. Take the third one down¡­ Where your pinky is. The one under that also. I couldn''t help feeling excited as I leafed through them. Here, in my hands, were real magical objects! ¡°So, talismans of invisibility..?¡± Look farther down. The character in the middle will be similar to the number ten. When I finally found it, I felt that the center more closely resembled a cross. There only seemed to be one of them, which was really unfortunate. At least there were multiple talismans intended to hide one''s presence. ¡°I should have asked sooner, but, will I be able to activate talismans?¡± Yes. He seemed confident, so I didn''t ask and focused on getting out. I was a little worried about getting the timing wrong, but Xiao Qiang helped me to climb onto the roof and find a good spot on the outer wall where I could watch the garden. Nie Yilian was still there, seeming to hover near the six Yu family members present. While waiting, he taught me how to use talismans via the presence-hiding ones by dripping my blood on the back and pasting it onto my clothes when it began to glow. Each lasted about thirty minutes, and would continue to glow faintly while active, growing dimmer as it ceased to work. It was a little after I applied the second one that the Yu family began to make their way out, Yu Sheng going first with his son and wife, his three knuckleheaded nephews bringing up the tail. Nie Yilian left the gate with them but promptly turned the other way after seeing them off, heading down the road that bordered the forest by herself. Invisibility talismans typically last about sixty minutes, according to Xiao Qiang, but I didn''t know how long we would have to wait. Thinking that it''s better to be safe than sorry, I tried to follow Nie Yulian without it at first, creeping over the wall and into the surrounding woodlands. It seems like she''s heading straight toward her family home. You can follow her from a path toward the north. But are you so sure that you''ll see what you expect? Actually, I wasn''t. Any one of my actions today could have thrown off the timeline. However, the three Yu boys had been throwing her looks and sneering, and it wasn''t long before I caught sight of them following her through the trees, at which point I applied the invisibility talisman. We had hardly been walking for ten minutes when the largest of the Yu boys called out, ¡°Wait up, wait.¡± Nie Yilian looked for a second like she might break out into a run, but she resisted that impulse. ¡°Young masters Yu,¡± she greeted them. Her aura was still fairly calm, even as the three boys spread out around her on the empty path. Xiao Qiang was causing our muscles to tense. I hadn''t told him exactly what would happen here, so maybe he was imagining worse things than reality. Yilian should be around the same age as Rong Xiugang, but the three boys were seventeen, sixteen, and fourteen; they had also trained in martial arts since childhood, while Nie Yilian was a normal girl. However, I was sure that the three only intended to taunt her, and would not harm her. ¡°Is there something I can do for you young masters?¡± Nie Yilian was brave enough to ask. I remembered that the oldest Yu boy was named Yu Guan as he laughed, crossing his arms over his chest. He seemed delighted at this chance to bully a young girl. Yu Guan did a little posturing before he brought up Nie Yilian¡¯s father, Nie Xiyong, who was currently slowly dying from some unique cold poison. Apparently, his life could only be saved by using a pill that used phoenix fire herb, very expensive and rare. ¡°Yes. I''m very grateful to the Yu family for offering to provide the materials.¡± Nie Yilian spoke carefully, but her previously calm aura was disrupted the moment her father''s matter came up. ¡°Well¡­ about that,¡± Yu Guan said, barely suppressing a smile. ¡°It seems that the Yu family may actually need a little more of a favor from you after all.¡± So the Yu family blackmailed her with her father''s life. Xiao Qiang concluded, and I could tell that he was both disgusted with the Yu family and Nie Yilian. However, her father was in great health by the time I met him, and she spent two years as my fiancee without telling me anything! If she thought I was too weak to do anything, I can understand that! But years after my disappearance, didn''t she have Xiujian to rely on? How could the Yu family blackmail her then? But she never even tried to stand against them, and claimed I was the one to blackmail her! I shook my head slightly; we hadn''t seen quite enough yet. ¡°The eldest son of the Rong family, you can''t tell me you haven''t heard of him.¡± ¡°Young master Rong Xiugang?¡± she checked, looking confused by the topic change. Briefly, Yu Guan explained to her that she''d caught Rong Xiugang''s eye, but that naturally left her with another question. ¡°I''m thankful for his kind words, but I don''t know what favor you are asking for¡­¡± The youngest cousin snorted, cutting her off. Yu Guan swatted playfully at him and went on to make some vague references about relationships between men and women, implying but refusing to say what exactly they wanted her to do with Rong Xiugang. ¡°You have to know that your little performance was hardly of equal value to a treasure like the Phoenix Fire herb.¡± the middle Yu brother jumped in at one point. Xiao Qiang twisted our face at this. Nie Yilian had never spoken with Rong Xiugang, had probably heard ill of him; but she believed the best of people and was quite smart. ¡°Someone like the eldest son of the Rong family, why would he send the three of you to say this? This almost seems like a plot of the Yu family to send someone they can control to the Rong family.¡± My arms started to shake, and I was puzzled for a second before realizing that it was Xiao Qiang. We still hadn''t gotten to the important part, so I used my left hand to gently pat my right. It was awkward, but the best way I could think to try and soothe him. Yu Guan was angry for half a second before he cracked up laughing. ¡°Do you think we''d dare to talk like this if we didn''t have his backing? Unfortunately, our Yu family is not that great.¡± It was an important turning point in the conversation. They knew that Nie Yilian knew what they wanted her to do; now they had to convince her that it was really Rong Xiugang who they took orders from. To this end, the three boys began singing Rong Xiugang''s praises, calling him cunning, powerful, bold, a natural leader - all implying that he really did bully people. ¡°Right. I nearly forgot. Here''s his first gift for you,¡± Yu Guan said, and gestured at the youngest. The boy pulled a single palm-sized flower from his bag, and my stomach felt like it dropped to the ground when Xiao Qiang recognized it. This white tiger face azalea was very meaningful to him. Seeing it, Xiao Qiang seemed to finally understand the depth of Yu Qianqian¡¯s plot. Nie Yilian had expressed doubt about whether it was truly Rong Xiugang that told the Yu family to intimidate her, but with this flower¡­ once she learned more about it, she would have to believe it. I could remember at least one line clearly from a flashback the protagonist had during the novel when Nie Yilian''s situation was revealed. ¡±Mother, how should I flirt with a woman?¡± Rong Xiugang had asked Yu Qianqian; he was serving out his house arrest following his father''s disastrous banquet, but had been far from remorseful. His doting stepmother went to visit him daily, so that she could comfort and distract him. Yu Qianqian had smiled at him, praised his romantic heart, and made a suggestion. ¡°Sending poetry or flowers; but whatever you send, make sure that it''s personal. That it comes from the heart. That way, your feelings will definitely reach the other person.¡± Rong Xiugang had no talent for poetry, so naturally, he leaned towards flowers. And as Yu Qianqian predicted, when it came to choosing a flower that represented his heart, that would feel personal, Rong Xiugang could only send Nie Yilian flowers from the white tiger face azalea bushes that grew in his mother''s old yard. No one but Rong Yitang, Rong Xiugang, and Sisi were allowed into this little garden, as the three treated this as though it were Lan Yue''s grave. These flowers were hard to propagate, and Lan Yue had brought the seeds from a land far to the south. People in Guoyang couldn''t hope to see them. When he met with Nie Yilian later and told her about the importance of these flowers, Rong Xiugang hadn''t forgotten to boast about how rare they were, how only he and his father could access them. But since it was a little embarrassing also, he was staring at a wall as he said it, and missed the expression that crossed Nie Yilian¡¯s face. The Nie Yilian in front of me took the flower with stiff, jerky movements. Her father''s life relied on the kindness of the Yu family, and so for now, she couldn''t refuse them anything. But it was clearly a struggle for her to be polite with them as she asked them to let her go home for now, and discuss the matter later. Yu Guan pretended to show some sympathy as he gestured for his brothers to fall back. ¡°Well, it''s the Rong family. What can you do?¡± he said, clearly intending for this to be the parting line. But, unexpectedly for Yu Guan and I both, a woman''s laugh rang out. ¡°The Rong family, hmm?¡± Rong Xiumei asked, dropping to the path between them. She must have appeared in the trees at some point, but I didn''t know since when. ¡°Yu Guan, how dare you talk about the Rong family!¡± ¡°Biaojie!¡± The youngest boy blurted out, turning pale. Ah, so she really wasn''t supposed to be here. As I''d thought, this was one plan that Yu Qianqian hadn''t told her daughter about. ¡°Huisong. Oh, Huiyang is here too.¡± Her voice was full of contempt. Standing in the middle, her eyes swept from Nie Yilian''s hands to Yu Guan''s stiff expression. ¡°That flower is really something that you shouldn''t have touched,¡± Xiumei said. She sounded grimly delighted. ¡°If I show this to my little brother and tell him that it was in your hands, Huisong, just what do you think will happen?¡± The youngest boy dropped to his knees, shaking, and cried out that he was wrong. Yu Guan looked at him sharply, and then back towards Nie Yilian. I imagined that he was still trying to figure out how to salvage the original plan, not seeming to know that it was doomed from the second Rong Xiumei intervened. ¡°Little Xiumei, you must know -¡± that we couldn''t have gotten this flower without Rong Xiugang¡¯s permission, he wanted to say, but Yu Guan was silenced as Rong Xiumei wrapped a hand around his neck. ¡°You want to bully others and frame my little brother?¡± she asked him, even though he was no longer able to answer. ¡°Miss Nie!¡± Ring Xiumei suddenly addressed the girl behind her. ¡°Please set that flower down. It''s not a good thing if you''re found with that. I will come personally to you tomorrow with the Phoenix Fire herb and an explanation, so please go home safely!¡± Shock and hope both appeared on Nie Yilian''s face. ¡°Oh! Yes!¡± she said, and setting down the large white blossom, she hurried away. Though Yu Guan''s hand shot in that direction, Xiumei still had him by the throat. He couldn''t do anything. I had expected her to bring up Rong Yutang, and was pleasantly surprised by what she said instead. This implied that she believed wholeheartedly in her brother, not thinking for a second that what her maternal cousins said could be the truth. Once drool started to pour out of Yu Guan¡¯s mouth, Xiumei dropped him to the ground and let him gasp and retch into the dirt. ¡°I won''t ask why the three of you did this. I can guess. But I will ask you¡­ does Uncle Sheng know?¡± Yu Huiyang began to frantically shake his head, and Huisong, seeing this, blurted out, ¡°it was him! His idea!¡± while pointing to Yu Guan. I couldn''t remember the full details of the Yu family''s problems, but I knew that Yu Sheng was the family head and that he genuinely respected Rong Yutang. Yu Qianqian worked hard to keep that older brother blind to her schemes, relying on her younger brother instead. ¡°I see. Well. It''s quite late - the three of you should really hurry home before your parents can worry. I''ll come by to talk with Uncle Sheng tomorrow. We¡¯ll see what happens then.¡± Yu Guan could hardly walk; Yu Huiyang had to support him, but the three left as quickly as they could. The youngest, Yu Huisong, kept up a steady mumble of apologies and pleas for mercy; Rong Xiumei seemed to be deaf to it. I had hoped that she would follow them, but Rong Xiumei continued to stand in that spot. She looked to the sky for several minutes, and then to the white-and-black flower on the ground. My feet were looking more and more solid by the second, and I realized that I wouldn''t be able to wait. But I¡¯d hardly taken three steps before a branch cracked underfoot. Xiumei quickly called out, ¡°Who''s there?¡± I knew better than to think I could get past her while her guard was up. Wearing a sheepish expression, my body still faintly trembling, I peeled off the talisman and approached the treeline. ¡°Xiugang?!¡± It seemed she really hadn''t expected me - her jaw dropped, eyes popping out. ¡°Dajie¡­ I¡­¡± I stumbled over my words. Actually, I legitimately didn''t know what to say. When in doubt, show gratitude. ¡°The Yu family, Nie Yilian¡­ Thank you. Thank you!¡± ¡°You¡­ Xiugang¡­ what, you just stood there and watched all of that?! Why are you even out here?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Ah, yeah, that was hard to explain. I sidestepped it for now. ¡°Dajie¡­ just how did they get ahold of a white tiger face azalea..?¡± Rong Xiumei froze for a second. She''d already decided that I was innocent, so clearly she knew that her mother was somehow to blame. ¡°Yu Guan is very stupid,¡± she said, throwing the pot to her cousin. ¡°Stupid and bold. He must have taken advantage of today''s events to slip over to¡­ to her courtyard.¡± I shook my head, letting Xiao Qiang''s disgust twist our face. I stepped out of the trees on shaking legs and squatted down to pick up the flower, gingerly brushing some dirt from its petals. Rong Xiumei was silent, somberly watching me, and I realized that I would need to say something. ¡°Dajie, I''ve realized lately¡­ that I''m really too weak.¡± My eyes darted to the trees, not wanting to see what kind of face she''d make to that. ¡°When I heard what Yu Guan said earlier, I wanted to jump out, and when they brought out that flower¡­¡± I let my trembling body be proof of what went unsaid. That I must have become so angry and afraid that I could hardly even move. ¡°But, then I thought - wouldn''t that young girl be even more afraid if she saw me? And if I left to get help, and something happened..? I decided to stay until they were gone, and then tell Father¡­ But then. Thankfully. Dajie came.¡± I allowed my voice to become tearful at the end. Wow. You''re really good at being pitiful. As my mood was good, I decided to take his words as a compliment. It was also a good thing that Xiao Qiang spoke again, as I had started to wonder if he was still here. Rong Xiumei shook her head. After a second, she had another question. ¡°How did you hide yourself? I couldn''t see you.¡± ¡°I took some of your talismans from your study.¡± I confessed slowly, not sure if I should admit it or not. ¡°I''ve been trying to learn about them, since mastering talismans doesn''t rely on a good spirit root.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± she said. Since she wasn¡¯t angry, I dared to continue. ¡°I''m sorry. I have the rest right here, I''ll return them to you¡­ I''ll confess to Father in the morning. To pay you back, I -¡± ¡°No need. I have plenty of talismans. And don''t tell father anything, either.¡± ¡°Dajie!¡± I was genuinely surprised, turning to look at her at last. ¡°Not about the talismans, that flower, or Nie Yilian.¡± Xiumei clarified. I realized that there was shame on her face as well. ¡°I''ll handle matters on my own, and definitely make things right. We don''t need to bother Father with this.¡± ¡°... I understand.¡± ¡°And... I''ll send you some materials later, so study well, and don''t make this kind of expression in the future.¡± Wait, wasn''t this a really good thing? Rong Xiumei was actually taking pity on me! I could tell that Xiao Qiang didn''t like this development, but I was really happy. ¡°Also - Xiugang, I should apologize for something else.¡± She sounded stiff, but sincere. ¡°I heard about what happened yesterday, but I didn''t think it would affect you to this extent. That boy, I''ll teach him a lesson for you. He needs to know that our Rong family isn''t so easy to bully.¡± Another win, probably. I still didn''t know what had happened the day before, or what boy she was talking about, but things seemed to be working in my favor. It was quite late, so Rong Xiumei didn''t hold me up for much longer. Sisi was waiting in my room to scold me, and I was a little afraid that she would notice the flower hiding in my sleeve if she helped me to get ready for bed. Thankfully, when she was done complaining, she just pointed me to a lukewarm bath she''d prepared behind a screen and told me not to die. Then, with a great huff, she left. As tired as I was, it felt very good to bathe. I had worked up quite a sweat, with everything, and the smell was unpleasant and sour. More or less forgetting that this wasn''t my body, I scrubbed the skin vigorously and quickly so that I could dry off, dress, and fall under the sheets. I barely remembered to set that flower safely beside the pillow. It didn''t seem to have wilted at all, and I didn''t know when it would. At the last second, I remembered to check in with the other guy. ¡°Xiao Qiang, you understood it, right? Nie Yilian really thought that you were the one threatening her father''s life. After you went missing, she told Rong Xiujian about it¡­ he didn''t want to believe you would do that, but you weren''t there to ask, and his cousins all said they were coerced by you. Those two¡­ it''s not that they wanted to betray you, they just fell into other people''s schemes.¡± Xiao Qiang didn''t answer, but I knew he''d heard, because my teeth started to grind. I was tired enough to fall asleep anyway. ________________ (1) Dajie ´ó½ã means eldest sister / older sister. I''m using the Chinese for this because I think it sounds better than saying Sister over and over again; also, the narrator is using this address specifically to emphasize that she is the real firstborn. Other titles are given in English when that seems more appropriate. (2) Biaojie ±í½ã is a term for a maternal older female cousin. The other two cousins are older than Rong Xiumei.